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Campus Security

Public Safety Department and
Emergency Preparedness

It is the policy of the College Board of Trustees to protect the members of the college community and to protect the property of College of the Desert. Under the general direction of the V.P. of Administrative Services, the College of the Desert Public Safety Department shall ensure that reasonable protection is provided by using methods that fit within the educational philosophy and process of the college.

Public Safety Officers

College Of The Desert Public Safety Officers are non-sworn. Public Safety Department Officers are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Officers patrol the campuses routinely to ensure a safe and secure environment.

Sheriff's Department

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department has jurisdiction on the Palm Desert and Mecca Thermal campuses and enforces State and local laws. Indio Police Department, Palm Springs Police Department have jurisdiction on their respective campuses and enforce state and local laws.  They also enforce any Vehicle Code violations, and complete investigations of all criminal and traffic cases that occur on the campus.

Lost and Found Items

The Public Safety Department safe keeps all Lost and Found items on the Palm Desert, Eastern Valley, Western Valley, Mecca Thermal campuses. All items turned in are inventoried and stored for 90 days. Every attempt is made to locate the owner and return their property to them.

If you find lost property please turn it in to the Public Safety Department office in a timely manner so that an attempt to locate the owner will occur.  If you have lost an item you may also contact your Campus' Public Safety Department Dispatch:

                 760-341-2111

 

Reporting a Crime

Potential criminal actions, other life-threatening emergencies on or near campus can be reported by dialing 9-1-1 from any campus extension or cell phone.  You may also dial 2111 from a campus extension or 760-341-2111 from a cell phone to reach Public Safety Department 24 hours a day.  If you are reporting a 9-1-1 call from a campus extension it notifies the Public Safety Department.  

Parking Enforcement

Public Safety Officers enforce parking regulations on all College of the Desert campuses. 

Semester parking permits can be purchased online here​. No person may park in a disabled parking space without a current DMV Disabled placard that is issued to the driver.

  • Palm Desert Campus:  Daily permits can be purchased for $1.00 in lots 4, 14, 23 and 28. Students may NOT park in the public library side of the parking lot (south side), McCallum Theatre parking (west side of the McCallum Theatre), or staff/faculty parking at anytime. Staff parking must have a staff permit visible.  Disabled Parking must have a placard or license plate displayed. Motorcycles must park in motorcycle parking spaces and display a COD Parking permit.  No parking in the red curb or fire lane ever.​
  • ​Eastern Valley/Indio Campus:  staff parking must have a staff permit visible.  Disabled Parking must have a placard or license plate displayed. No parking in the red curb or fire lane ever.
  • Western Valley/Palm Springs Campus:  staff parking must have a staff permit visible.  Disabled Parking must have a placard or license plate displayed. No parking in the red curb or fire lane ever.
  • Mecca Thermal Campus:  staff parking must have a staff permit visible.  Disabled Parking must have a placard or license plate displayed. No parking in the red curb or fire lane ever.

Parking Contest Forms

If you are issued a citation and feel that you have grounds to contest the citation, you may fill out a Parking Contest Form. 

Failure to display a valid permit is not grounds to file a parking contest form.​​​​​​  Parking in a staff lot without a staff pass is not grounds to file a parking contest form.  For more information please visit your Public Safety Department on your campus, or call 760-341-2111.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​